No BS Advice to my Younger Poorer Self

Summary

• I often find that rich people use money to buy time, while the ambitious use time to buy skills. Generational wealth comes through skills, not just possessions.
• Lazy people distract themselves because facing inadequacies can be painful. It's easy to get caught up in distractions rather than improving oneself.
• Gratitude is crucial for well-being. You enjoy life more when you realize you deserve nothing but have earned everything.
• I've had multiple businesses at once, but realized having too many income streams just spreads your focus thin.
• True focus is saying yes to fewer things. Success comes from concentrating on one thing and saying no to everything else.
• To achieve massive growth, like a $200M to $1.2B increase, it's important to make strategic choices, even if it means personal sacrifices.
• There's a misconception that one can achieve success without making trade-offs. Every choice has a price, and you can't have it all without paying it.
• Working long hours, like the 12×30 method—12 hours a day for 30 days—can help you realize your potential and push your limits.
• Building the ability to work under pressure without relenting is key to long-term success and overcoming fatigue or distractions.
• Your work ethic and competence improve as you practice and push through discomfort. Learn to whip yourself back into focus mid-distraction.
• Creating successful content or a brand requires substantial volume and effort; it isn't an overnight process.
• Realize that you may be further along in the journey than you feel; hard work now lays the groundwork for future ease.
• The challenges you face now will be the "good old days" in hindsight. Embrace the struggle as part of your story.
• Continuous improvement is more valuable than initial talent or connections. It's about making progress in every way possible.
• Education is an investment, not an expense. The cost seems high, but the return on skills or knowledge far outweighs it.
• Many don't reach their goals because they underestimate the work required. It takes what it takes, and it costs what it costs.
• Make decisions quickly and execute even faster. Speed can multiply your progress significantly.
• People who consistently push beyond comfort zones understand that work creates perfect circumstances, not the other way around.
• Standards matter. Hold yourself to high standards and pursue excellence, defining your limits by what you're willing to trade-off.
• Excuses and complaints indicate a misunderstanding of the necessary effort and adjustments required to achieve goals.
• Don't envy or try to reverse-engineer someone else's success without understanding the complete path they took. Success leaves clues, but it requires your unique journey.
• All efforts pile up to shape who you become. The hardship faced today will craft a better, stronger you tomorrow.

Video

How To Take Action

I suggest implementing skills over distractions. First, spend time wisely by investing in learning something valuable. This skill-building approach will push you closer to generational wealth, rather than wasting time on things that keep you from improving.

A good way of doing this is focusing on one key project or skill at a time. Avoid spreading yourself thin with numerous small ventures or income streams. Successful people say yes to fewer things so they can give their best to what truly matters. Try setting a goal for the next 30 days and work 12 hours a day on it, repeating Alex Hormozi’s 12×30 method. This intense focus helps you see how much you can achieve in a short period.

Make strategic choices, even if it means some personal sacrifices. Despite the challenges, remember every trade-off has a price, and nothing is achieved without them. Learn to embrace hardships and push through fatigue, as these moments will build your resilience and work ethic.

At the same time, hold yourself accountable and practice gratitude for what you achieve. Understand that you’ll face pain points but consider them part of the journey. Learning, adapting, and maintaining high standards are necessary for personal growth and business success. This way, over time, you'll replace distractions with productive habits, setting you up for long-term achievements.

Quotes

"The rich buy time, the poor buy stuff, ambitious people buy skills, and lazy people buy distractions"

– Alex Hormozi

"Focus is measured by the amount of things you say no to"

– Alex Hormozi

"How quickly between when I make a decision to do something does it actually occur"

– Alex Hormozi

"Hard work is the goal, is that nothing left in the tank"

– Alex Hormozi

"People are willing to make trade-offs, but it takes what it takes"

– Alex Hormozi